Multi-core optical fiber

ABSTRACT

A multi-core optical fiber  1 A in which a plurality of cores can easily be identified even in the case where they are symmetrically arranged in its section has seven cores  10  to  16 , a visual recognition marker  20 , and a shared cladding  30  enclosing the seven cores  10  to  16  and the visual recognition marker  20 . The cores  10  to  16 , the visual recognition marker  20 , and the cladding  30  are respectively made of silica glass as their main element. The cores  10  to  16  and the visual recognition marker  20  extend along the fiber-axis direction. The respective refractive index of the cores  10  to  16  is higher than the refractive index of the cladding  30 . The refractive index of the visual recognition marker  20  differs from that of the cladding  30 . In the cross-section perpendicular to the fiber-axis, the cores  10  to  16  are arranged such that they have 6-fold rotational symmetry and line symmetry. The visual recognition marker  20  is arranged at a position which breaks such symmetry.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/377,868, filed on Dec. 13, 2011, which is the National Stage of International Application No. PCT/JP2011/051392 filed on Jan. 26, 2011, which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a multi-core optical fiber in which a plurality of cores extending in a fiber-axis direction and used for transmitting light are covered with a shared cladding.

BACKGROUND ART

The multi-core optical fiber can transmit mass information, since each of the plurality of cores functions as an optically independent optical waveguide. Generally, in the cross-section perpendicular to the fiber-axis of the multi-core optical fiber, two or more cores are arranged in symmetry (rotational symmetry or line symmetry) (Non-patent Literature 1). Symmetrically arranging the plurality of cores makes it possible to arrange the cores with high density in the section of the multi-core optical fiber and to control the cross talk between cores.

FIG. 1 is a cross-section of a multi-core optical fiber 2 for a comparative example. In the multi-core optical fiber 2, seven cores 10 to 16 which extend along the fiber-axis direction are surrounded by a shared cladding 30. The core 10 is arranged at the center of the section of the optical fiber 2, and the six cores 11 to 16 are arranged at equal intervals on the circumference of a circle such that the core 10 is located at the center of the circle. That is, the seven cores 10 to 16 are arranged in a manner having 6-fold rotational symmetry.

In a case where two or more cores are symmetrically disposed in the section, the cores having symmetrical relations cannot be identified. In the multi-core optical fiber 2, the respective six cores 11 to 16 cannot be identified. Even if the six cores 11 to 16 differ in terms of the core diameter or the refractive index, it would be difficult to identify each of the six cores 11 to 16.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a multi-core optical fiber in which each core can easily be identified even if two or more cores are symmetrically arranged in the section of the multi-core optical fiber.

To achieve the object, provided is a multi-core optical fiber having a plurality of cores, a visual recognition marker, and a shared cladding that encloses the plurality of cores and the visual recognition marker, wherein the plurality of cores, the visual recognition marker, and the cladding are respectively made of silica glass as their main element, the plurality of cores and the visual recognition marker extend along the fiber-axis direction, and the refractive index of the visual recognition marker is different from the refractive index of the cladding, and wherein in the cross-section perpendicular to the fiber-axis the plurality of cores are symmetrically arranged, and the visual recognition marker is arranged at a position that breaks such symmetry.

In the multi-core optical fiber of the present invention, it is preferable that the refractive index of at least a part of the visual recognition marker be higher than the refractive index of the cladding. Preferably, the normalized frequency of the visual recognition marker differs from the normalized frequency of the respective cores by 5% or more. Also, it is preferable that a peripheral part having a refractive index which is lower than the refractive index of the cladding be provided in the periphery of the visual recognition marker. In another aspect, in a multi-core optical fiber of the present invention, the visual recognition marker may have a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the cladding. In this case, a relative refractive index difference of the visual recognition marker to the cladding

$\left( \frac{n_{marker} - n_{cladding}}{n_{cladding}} \right)$ is not more than −0.1%. The visual recognition marker may be arranged in a circle having a minimum diameter among circles centers of which are arranged at a center of the multi-core optical fiber and which include the plurality of cores.

In the multi-core optical fiber of the present invention, it is easy to discriminate the respective cores since the arrangement of the plurality of cores and the visual recognition marker is not symmetrical as a whole even in the case where the plurality of cores are symmetrically arranged in the section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-section that is perpendicular to the fiber-axis of a multi-core optical fiber for a comparative example.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section that is perpendicular to the fiber-axis of a multi-core optical fiber in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section that is perpendicular to the fiber-axis of a multi-core optical fiber in a modified example of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section that is perpendicular to the fiber-axis of a multi-core optical fiber in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section that is perpendicular to the fiber-axis of a multi-core optical fiber in Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section that is perpendicular to the fiber-axis of a multi-core optical fiber in a modified example of Embodiment 3.

FIG. 7 is a cross-section that is perpendicular to the fiber-axis of a multi-core optical fiber in Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are provided for the purpose of explaining the embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. In the drawings, an identical mark represents the same element so that the repetition of explanation may be omitted. The dimensional ratios in the drawings are not always exact.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section that is perpendicular to the fiber-axis of a multi-core optical fiber 1A in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The multi-core optical fiber 1A has seven cores 10 to 16, a visual recognition marker 20, and a shared cladding 30 which encloses the seven cores 10 to 16 and the visual recognition marker 20. The cores 10 to 16 and the visual recognition marker 20 extend along the fiber-axis direction. The refractive index of each of the cores 10 to 16 is higher than the refractive index of the cladding 30. The refractive index of the visual recognition marker 20 differs from the refractive index of the cladding 30. The respective cross-section of the cores 10 to 16 and the visual recognition marker 20 is circular form.

The cores 10 to 16, the visual recognition marker 20, and the cladding 30 are respectively made of silica glass as their main element and an additive for adjusting the refractive index is added as needed. For example, the cores 10 to 16 and the visual recognition marker 20 are respectively GeO₂-doped silica glass, and the cladding 30 is pure silica glass. Or, the cores 10 to 16 and the visual recognition marker 20 are respectively pure silica glass, and the cladding 30 is F-doped silica glass, for example. Also, the cores 10 to 16 are respectively GeO₂-doped silica glass, the visual recognition marker 20 is F-doped silica glass, and the cladding 30 is pure silica glass. Or, the cores 10 to 16 are respectively pure silica glass, the cladding 30 is F-doped silica glass, and the visual recognition marker 20 is F-doped silica glass having a larger fluorine concentration than the cladding 30.

It does not matter whether the core diameter of the cores 10 to 16 is the same or not. Also, it does not matter whether the refractive index of the cores 10 to 16 is the same or not.

In the cross-section perpendicular to the fiber-axis, the core 10 is arranged at the center, and the six cores 11 to 16 are arranged at equal intervals on the circumference of a circle such that the core 10 is disposed at the center of the circle. That is, the seven cores 10 to 16 are arranged in a manner having 6-fold rotational symmetry and line symmetry. The visual recognition marker 20 is arranged at a position that breaks such symmetry. The whole arrangement of the cores 11 to 16 and the visual recognition marker 20 is not symmetrical.

In order to make the whole arrangement of the cores 10 to 16 and the visual recognition marker 20 to be unsymmetrical, the marker 20 may only be arranged such that its distance from any arbitrary two cores of the cores 10 to 16 differs, for example. Or, as in a cross-section of the multi-core optical fiber 1B (shown in FIG. 3), the visual recognition marker 20 may be arranged on a line extending from the line connecting the core 13 and the core 15. By making such arrangement, the symmetry of cross-sectional structure of the multi-core optical fiber 1A is lost, and consequently the cores 10 to 16 can easily be discriminated by observing the section and detecting the position of the visual recognition marker 20. In addition, having the visual recognition marker 20 made of silica glass, the optical fiber 1A of Embodiment 1 has an advantage over an embodiment having a hole as a recognition marker in view of unintentional adhering of a foreign substance in or after the production.

In order to secure the visibility of the visual recognition marker 20, it is preferable that the refractive index of at least some region of the visual recognition marker 20 be higher than the refractive index of the cladding 30. By doing so, light can be propagated through the visual recognition marker 20, which results in increase of the visibility of the visual recognition marker 20. Also, in order to restrain the cross talk between the cores 10 to 16 and the visual recognition marker 20, it is preferable that the normalized frequency of the visual recognition marker 20 differ from the normalized frequency of any of the cores 10 to 16 by 5% or more.

A refractive index of the visual recognition marker 20 may be lower than that of the cladding 30. In this case, the visual recognition marker 20 cannot guide light and has an advantage that crosstalk between the visual recognition marker 20 and any one of the cores 10 to 16 does essentially not arise. Although the visual recognition marker 20 cannot guide light, a direction of the optical fiber can be found by an observation from the side face. The visual recognition marker 20 can also be found by illuminating the end surface of the optical fiber. In this case, a relative refractive index difference of the visual recognition marker 20 to the cladding preferably not more than −0.1% in view of easy discrimination of the visual recognition marker 20 from the cladding 30.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section that is perpendicular to the fiber-axis of a multi-core optical fiber 1C in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The multi-core optical fiber 1C has seven cores 10 to 16, a visual recognition marker 20, a shared cladding 30 which surrounds the cores 10 to 16 and the visual recognition marker 20, and a peripheral part 21 provided in the periphery of the visual recognition marker 20. The structure of the multi-core optical fiber 1C is different from that of the multi-core optical fiber 1A of Embodiment 1 in that the multi-core optical fiber 1C further includes the peripheral part 21.

The peripheral part 21 is formed in the periphery of the visual recognition marker 20 and has a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the cladding 30. For example, the cladding 30 is pure silica glass, and the visual recognition marker 20 is GeO₂-doped silica glass, and the peripheral part 21 is F-doped silica glass. In this way, the multi-core optical fiber IC is enabled to generate the same effect as the multi-core optical fiber 1A, and moreover the cross talk between the cores 10 to 16 and the visual recognition marker 20 can be restrained.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section that is perpendicular to the fiber-axis of a multi-core optical fiber 101A in Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The multi-core optical fiber 101A has seven cores 10 to 16, a visual recognition marker 120, and a shared cladding 30 which encloses the seven cores 10 to 16 and the visual recognition marker 120. The cores 10 to 16 and the visual recognition marker 120 extend along the fiber-axis direction. The refractive index of the visual recognition marker 120 differs from the refractive index of the cladding 30. The respective cross-section of the cores 10 to 16 and the visual recognition marker 20 is circular form. Composition of each of the recognition marker 120 and the cladding 30 has a variation which is similar to Embodiment 1.

In the cross-section perpendicular to the fiber-axis, the core 10 is arranged at the center, and the six cores 11 to 16 are arranged at equal intervals on the circumference of a circle such that the core 10 is disposed at the center of the circle. That is, the seven cores 10 to 16 are arranged in a manner having 6-fold rotational symmetry and line symmetry. The visual recognition marker 120 is arranged at a position that breaks such symmetry. A distance from the center of the multi-core optical fiber 101A to the visual recognition marker 120 is smaller than a distance from the center of the multi-core optical fiber 101A to each of the cores 10 to 16. The whole arrangement of the cores 11 to 16 and the visual recognition marker 120 is not symmetrical.

In order to make the whole arrangement of the cores 10 to 16 and the visual recognition marker 120 to be unsymmetrical, the marker 120 may only be arranged such that its distance from any arbitrary two cores of the cores 10 to 16 differs, for example. Or, as in a cross-section of the multi-core optical fiber 101B (shown in FIG. 6), the visual recognition marker 120 may be arranged on a line extending from the line connecting the core 13 and the core 15.

In order to secure the visibility of the visual recognition marker 120, the refractive index of the visual recognition marker 120 may be higher or lower than the refractive index of the cladding 30. If the refractive index of the visual recognition marker 120 is lower than that of the cladding 30, the visual recognition marker 120 cannot guide light and has an advantage that crosstalk between the visual recognition marker 120 and any one of the cores 10 to 16 does essentially not arise.

FIG. 7 is a cross-section that is perpendicular to the fiber-axis of a multi-core optical fiber 101C in Embodiment 4 of the present invention. The multi-core optical fiber 101C has seven cores 10 to 16, a visual recognition marker 120, a shared cladding 30 which surrounds the cores 10 to 16 and the visual recognition marker 120, and a peripheral part 121 provided in the periphery of the visual recognition marker 120 and having a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the cladding 30. In this way, the multi-core optical fiber 101C is enabled to generate the same effect as the multi-core optical fiber 101A, and moreover the crosstalk between the cores 10 to 16 and the visual recognition marker 120 can be restrained.

If a visual recognition marker is arranged in a circle having the minimum diameter, as a multi-core optical fiber of Embodiment 3 or Embodiment 4, among circles the centers of which is arranged at the center of the multi-core optical fiber and which include all cores 10 to 16, number of the cores can be increased for a multi-core optical fiber having a predetermined diameter, or design which decreases crosstalk between the cores can be adopted for a multi-core optical fiber having a predetermined diameter and a predetermined number of the cores.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various modifications are possible. For example, the core may be one that transmits light by the photonic band gap instead of the refractive-index difference between the core and the cladding. Also, the number of cores may be arbitrary rather than seven. The symmetry in the arrangement of cores in the section may be 4-fold symmetry instead of 6-fold symmetry. A plurality of visual recognition markers may be provided instead of one visual recognition marker.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

With the multi-core optical fiber of the present invention, it is possible to identify a plurality of cores easily and correctly when wiring a multi-core optical fiber or connecting multi-core optical fibers with each other.

PRIOR ART LITERATURE

Non-patent literature

Non-patent literature 1: Katsunori Imamura, Kazunori Mukasa, Yu Mimura, Takeshi Yagi, “Multi-core holey fibers for the long-distance (>100 km) ultra large capacity transmission,” OSA/OFC/NFOEC2009, OTuC3. 

The invention claimed is :
 1. A multi-core optical fiber having a plurality of cores, a visual recognition marker, and a shared cladding enclosing the plurality of cores and the visual recognition marker, wherein the plurality of cores, the visual recognition marker, and the cladding are respectively made of silica glass as their main element, the plurality of cores and the visual recognition marker extend along the fiber-axis direction, the refractive index of the visual recognition marker is different from the refractive index of the cladding, and wherein in the cross-section perpendicular to the fiber-axis, the plurality of cores are symmetrically arranged, and the visual recognition marker is arranged at a position that breaks such symmetry.
 2. A multi-core optical fiber as set forth in claim 1, wherein the refractive index of at least a part of the visual recognition marker is higher than the refractive index of the cladding.
 3. A multi-core optical fiber as set forth in claim 2, wherein the normalized frequency of the visual recognition marker differs from the normalized frequency of the respective cores by 5% or more.
 4. A multi-core optical fiber as set forth in claim 2, wherein a peripheral part having a refractive index lower than the refractive index of the cladding is provided in the periphery of the visual recognition marker.
 5. A multi-core optical fiber as set forth in claim 3, wherein a peripheral part having a refractive index lower than the refractive index of the cladding is provided in the periphery of the visual recognition marker.
 6. A multi-core optical fiber as set forth in claim 1, wherein the visual recognition marker is arranged in a circle having a minimum diameter among circles centers of which are arranged at a center of the multi-core optical fiber and which include the plurality of cores.
 7. A multi-core optical fiber as set forth in claim 1, wherein the visual recognition marker has a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the cladding.
 8. A multi-core optical fiber as set forth in claim 7, wherein a relative refractive index difference of the visual recognition marker to the cladding is not more than −0.1%. 